Sink structure



May 15, 1962 G. A. LYON SINK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 28, 1959 F.: q. j

INVENTOR George fl/ber-fLyon ATTORNEYS 3,034,148 SINK STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Lyon Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 842303 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-187) The present invention rel-ates to improvements in sink structures and more particularly concerns improvements in sinks of the rigid rim flange type especially adapted for use as bar sinks, kitchen sinks, lavatory washbowls, and the like.

In rigid rim flange sinks it is desirable to have the terminus of the rim flange reinforced, but on the other hand it is essential that there be a thoroughly sealed joint between the rim flange and the supporting drainboard or cabinet top or counter top, any of which will be referred to herein as counter top.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved sink structure wherein a sink provided with a rigid rim flange is equipped with novel joint-sealing and supporting frame molding means engageable with a counter top providing supporting structure for the sink.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sink construction having a rigid rim flange carrying permanently assembled therewith and providing a functionally integral extension thereof a resiliently tensionable sheet metal strip molding frame member to pro vide a sink-supporting and joint-sealing member with respect to a counter top with which the sink may be assembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sink having a novel rigid rim flange terminal reinforcement providing an interlock groove for a supporting and jointsealing molding frame strip member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mutually interlocked sink rim flange and molding frame strip construction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel sink structure including a rigid rim flange having a groove terminal structure with which is permanently as sembled by curling assembly a curled interlock and reinforcing bead of a supporting and joint-sealing molding frame strip member.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a sink structure embodying features of the invention;

FEGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail View taken substantially on the line IIII of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail View through the sink rim and molding frame strip showing the same in a die assembly wherein the novel method of assembling the sink components is adapted to be pracg emits Patented May 15, iesz be received freely within an opening 8 provided therefor in a counter top 9 which may be of the currently popular wooden base type having an upper wear surface which may comprise a lamina of a thermosetting plastic. In this instance, the sink 5 is provided with a generally oval bowl while the rim flange 7 is of circular perimeter providing a widened rear plumbing shelf portion. However, other bowl and rim perimeter shapes may be provided.

On its outer, free margin, the rigid sink rim flange 7 is formed with a turned reinforcing flange 10 of generally hook-shaped cross-section angularly depressed below the upper surface of the rim flange and at its free edge projecting upwardly and inwardly opposite to the juncture of the flange with the body of the rim flange 7. Within the rim terminal flange 10 is provided an upwardly and inwardly opening groove 11 of transversely "curved form, the inner side of which drops off at juncture of the terminal flange with the rim flange 7, and the outer side of which is formed by the free portion of the flange it which is turned inwardly over the groove 11 and projects above the upper face of the rim flange 7. Through this arrangement, the length of the flange 10 is such as to extend through more than of a circle and the gap between the ends of the flange affording entry into the groove 11 is less than 180.

In addition to serving as terminal reinforcement, the terminal flange 10 provides interlock structure coactive with an inner marginal reinforcing and interlock bead 12 on the inner margin of a molding frame strip member 13 which arches over the tip of the flange 10 and projects as an outward extension of the rim flange 7. At its outer side, the frame strip member 13 has a downturned edge 14 which is engageable in sealing, sink supporting relation upon the counter top 9 adjacent to the opening 8. Stainless steel or other suitable metallic strip material may be utilized in making of the molding frame strip member 13 by rolling or other suitable method of manufacture. molding frame-strip member 13 comprises a continuous ring. By having the bead 12 continuousit affords a rigid reinforcing rib for the frame strip member 13 and also affords a solid sink-supporting rib on which the sink is, in effect, hung by engagement of the turned lip of the terminal flange it) of the sink rim upon the upwardly and outwardly facing shoulder portion of the underturned flange providing the bead.

It is desirable that the frame member bead 12 not only provide an effective supporting interconnection with the sink rim terminal flange 10 but that it also provide a sealed joint therewith. While, of course, sealing material maybe packed in the groove-bead joint, it is better, or at least also advantageous to have the head 12 sized to fit as uniformly and snugly as practicable to the surface defining the groove 11. To this end, the method of assembling the molding frame member 13 with the sink rirn terminal flange 10 as depicted in FIGURE 3 is efficient. That is, the head 12 of the frame ring member is curled into the sink rim flange groove 11, using the surface of the terminal flange lttdefining the groove 11 As will be observed in FIGURE 1, the

and provides a guide for a relatively reciprocable pusher or pressure die member 18 which is contoured on its thrust face to receive the preformed arched body portion of the frame ring member 15 in nested relation.

In its preformed shape, before assembly with the sink, the inner marginal portion of the frame ring member 13 which is to provide the head 12 is in the form of a generally axially extending flange P which is substantially straight and of a diameter to fit within the inner side of the rim flange groove 11 and siidably about a back-up perimeter of the die member 17 coincident with the inner side of the groove 11. By preference the free end portion of the flange F is slightly turned in the curling direction as a starter. This condition is shown in full outline in FIGURE 3. A

After assembly of the sink with the supporting anvil die member 15, and with the die members 17 and 18 backed off for clearance, the preformed frame molding ring member 13 is assembled with the sink by registering the free end portion of the flange F within the innermost, drop-oil portion of the groove 11. The hold-down and back-up die member 17 is next brought into holding en- 'gagement with the sink rim flange 7 and into backing relation to the inner surface of the flange F. This is followed by thrusting of the pressure die member 18 against the body of the frame ring member 13 to thereby drive the flange F endwise into the groove 11, serving as a curling die and until curling of the head 12 has been completed, as indicated in dash outline in FIGURE 3.

As a result, the surface of the head 12 engages the surface defining the groove 11 with a firm,; closerfitting,

wiping coaction and in tight sealing engagement. After backing off of the die members 17 and 18, the unitarily joined sink and rim' flange molding frame extension 13 can be removed from thedie assembly and is ready to be assembledtwith the counter top9.

Although under some circumstances it may be, possible to afford ample retaining downward pull on the sink 5 by means of attached plumbing to effect adequate sealing thrust of the rim flange extension edge 14 against the counter top, in otherinstances it will be desirable to provide suitable retainin'g clamps or clips such asthe clips 19 shown in FIGURES l and 2 for retaining the sink in place and affording the desirable downward pull thereon and more particularly on the rim flange frame member extension '13. ,There may be as many of the clips as preferred, six being shown in FIGURE 1 equidistantly spaced about the; perimeter'of the sink.

Each of the clips 19 includes three arms projecting from a common body. An upstanding arm '20 has an'inwardlyturned head projection 21 arranged to engage retainingly upon the upwardly and loutwardly facing shoulder afforded by the turned lip of the terminal flange V 10 under the frame member body 13. The arm 20 project s up through the gap afforded between the terminal flange'10 and the edge of the counter top 8. Extending outwardly from the clip body at thelower end of the arm 20 is an outwardly projecting and upwardly directed clamping arm 22 engageable thrustingly against the underside of the counter top 9; adjacent to the opening 8. Projecting inwardly from the clip body and inoreparticularly the lower end portion of the arm 20 is an arm 23 for underlying the rimflange 7 and projecting inwardly beyond the rim terminal flange portion 10. A movable thrust member, conveniently in the form of a screw 24 threaded'through the arm 23 engages at its upper end or tip against the underside of the rim flange 7 adjacent to the reentrant corner defined'at juncture of the terminal flange It} with the body of the rim flange 7.

At its lower end the screw'2 4 has a digitally or tool engageable wing head 25. It *will be observed that the clip arms 20 are dimensionedto be inserted into the gap between the rim flange terminal 1i? and the ,edge defining the opening 8 by an upward assembly swinging 'movement about the 'curved surface of the rim terminal thrusting relation against the underside of the counter top 9 and continued tightening of the screw 24 draws downwardly on the rim flange and thus on the rim flange frame ring extension 13 to pull the sealing edge 14 tightly against the upper face of the counter top. Any tendency for the clip 19 and more particularly the retaining shoulder 21 to escape from engagement with the rim terminal flange 1G is precluded by engagement of the tip of the screw 24 with the inner side of the depressed rim flange terminal portion 1.021s shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sink structure including a sink member having a downwardly dished bowl with an upstanding wall provided with a rigid upper lateral rim flange entirely thereabout having a terminal portion providing an upwardly and inwardly opening groove of rounded crosssection, and a sheet metal molding frame strip flange ring extension projecting upwardly away from the downwardly dished bowl having an inner marginal reinforcing bead formation interlockingly substantially conformingly engaging within said groove, said strip flange extension projecting outwardly beyond said terminal portion having an upwardly extending wall defining the same and from the upper end of which wall projects outwardly entirely about the wall a rigid rim flange, the outer terminus of the rim flange having a terminal provided with an upwardly and inwardly opening cross-sectionally arcuate groove extending entirely about the rim flange and defined on its outer side by an upwardly and inwardly curved flange of a length to extend into partial overlying relation to the upwardly facing portion of the groove and defining with the inner side of the groove an entry which is less than and a rim flange extension molding strip ring having an inner margin curled conformably into the groove and locked under said curved flange, said molding strip ring projecting over said curved flange and outwardly and engaging upon the counter top.

3. In a sink structure including a sink member having an upwardly opening bowl provided with a lateral outwardly projecting rigid rim flange entirely thereabout, said rim flange having extending throughout the outer margin of said rim flange a depressed upwardly opening groove defined on the underside of the rim flange by a depending rib, said groove being defined at its outer side by an upwardly and inwardly turned lip, said lip partially overlying the groove and defining with the opposite edge of the groove an entry opening, a frame molding stn'p ring having an; inner margin interlockingly engaged with in said groove behind said lip and projecting over the lip outwardly therebeyond, a counter top having an opening within which the sink bowl is received, said opening being defined by a margin engaged by the outwardly projecting portion of the molding frame ring, and means for retaining the sink member in place including a clip having a shoulder resting onsaid lip and having a portion engaging under the counter top and another portion on derlying the rim flange and provided with a movable member engaging the rim flange inwardly adjacent to said rib and thrusting against the rim flange to draw said lip-engaging portion downwardly and thereby shift said counter top engaging portion into upwardly thrusting engagement with the underside of the counter top to thereby draw said projecting portion of the ring firmly against the counter top, said movable member being held by said rib against slipping outwardly from the rim flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Reiter June 5, 1934 Lyon Feb. 6, 1940 Lyon Feb. 20, 1940 Lyon Dec. 9, 1941 Lyon Apr. 27, 1943 Lyon Oct. 29, 1946 Lyon Jan. 24, 1956 Hammer July -1,- 1958 Hammer July 22, 1958 Ross June 16, 1959 Koehl Sept. 1, 1959 Lyon Sept. 15, 1959 Richardson Feb. 23, 1960 

